Everton 2-1 Arsenal: Toffees place second as they rack up misery over Mikel Arteta’s Gunners | Football news

Everton rose to second place in the Premier League as they racked up more misery at Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal with a 2-1 win at Goodison Park.

Everton took the lead when Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s header from Alex Iwobi’s cross deflected Gunners captain Rob Holding into his own goal (22), but Arsenal leveled on Nicolas Pepe’s penalty after Tom Davies’ foul on Ainsley Maitland-Niles (35).

Everton went ahead at the break thanks to a header close to the post by Yerry Mina from a Gylfi Sigurdsson (44) corner kick, and Arsenal came closer in a calmer second half as David Luiz hit the wood with a deflected effort. after Jordan Pickford lost a cross. .

A year after Carlo Ancelotti and Arteta took on their respective jobs, their seasons continue to go in opposite directions, as Everton’s third consecutive victory leaves them second behind their Merseyside rivals Liverpool for at least 24 hours.

Arsenal, who were “so lacking in quality in every way” according to Sky Sports’ Jamie Redknapp, see their routine continuing. They remain 15th, with just 14 points from 14 games after losing five of their last seven in the Premier League.

How Arsenal fell again when Everton looked up

The early stages were very distant at Goodison Park, with both sides registering just one touch in the opposition area before Everton’s opener midway through the first half. Calvert-Lewin threw an early low cross from former Arsenal winger Iwobi, but he hit Holding and found the bottom left corner of his own net.

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out with a calf injury, Arsenal missed a bite in the first half but tied with their first shot on goal as Davies’s punt to punt trapped Maitland-Niles in the area. Pepe stepped up and scored, becoming Arsenal’s top scorer in all competitions with six.

After Calvert-Lewin had done excellently to win a corner as the clock ticked halftime, Sigurdsson’s resulting set-piece delivery found Mina at the near post as he took off Pepe and Bukayo Saka, looking into the corner at despite Bernd Leno’s touch. .

Unbelievably, Mina’s last four PL goals have been scored in the 45th minute, as Everton picked the perfect timing to score.

Arsenal had a chance to level early in the second half when Pickford couldn’t pick up Willian’s cross, but Luiz’s deflected half volley from 15 yards hit the post and fell fortuitously on a blue jersey in the penalty area.

The Gunners huffed and puffed: Arteta’s XI got younger and younger when Joe Willock was introduced and Gabriel Martinelli came in for the first time since March, but lacked quality in the final third. Sky Sports’ Graeme Souness said, “They’re struggling, they’re not playing with a lot of effort, desire or fire in their stomach,” and that was evident throughout as they struggled to work a leveler.

Everton managed the game in the second half, thanks in large part to the play by Richarlison and Calvert-Lewin.

Arsenal, who have not scored since open play in any of their last five Premier League away games, limited themselves to long-range efforts as Pepe and the uninspiring Willian hit well and despite the pressure Belatedly, Everton survived when Pickford walked away. Kieran Tierney’s late cross shot to secure the points.

Everton were greeted with a standing ovation from the 2,000 fans inside Goodison Park after the final whistle, but for Arsenal, the concern continues. The Gunners’ 14 points from 14 games this season is their worst record at this stage of the season since the 1974/75 season.

Whats Next?

Everton now host Manchester United in the Carabao Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, live on Sky Sports Football at 8pm, before heading to bottom Sheffield United on Boxing Day at 8pm.

Arsenal host Manchester City in the Carabao Cup round of 16 on Tuesday, live on Sky Sports Football at 8pm, before hosting Chelsea in the Premier League on Boxing Day at 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports Premier League.